FAQ

Find below some of the most often asked questions and answers. If you can't find the answer of your specific questions here please contact us either using the online form at the bottom of this page or send us an email on info@kaltimber.com, you can also give us a call in our office number at (+62) 361 975 219 from Monday to Saturday 8.30-16.30h. We will gladly answer all of your questions.

Questions

Wood Floor Installation

How should I handle and store my wood floor prior to installation?

Can I install a hardwood floor in any room?

Can Solid wood be installed over linoleum?

Can Solid wood be installed on stairs?

Which installation method is best?

What is Floating Flooring?

What is the required distance between the walls and the flooring boards?

How much wastage should I allow for?

Does sunlight have any effects on the flooring?

Wood Floor Sanding and Finishing

Lacquer (Varnish) and Oil (Hard Wax Oil), what is the difference?

Can I change the colour of my floor?

How long will my room be out of action, when it’s being sanded?

My Floor has gaps between the boards!

Should I decorate my room first, or have the floors sanded first?

Is it sanding noisy?

Wood flooring Maintenance

Maintaining Your Wood Floor.

Are Solid wood floors difficult to maintain and clean?

How do I care for my oil-impregnated Hardwood Foors?

Solid Wood Flooring

What is solid wood Flooring?

Do Solid wood floors increase the value of your home?

Are solid wood floors expensive?

Parquet Flooring

Why Parquet?

General Questions

What is the difference between laminate flooring and wood flooring?

What are the benefits of wooden flooring?

Is there a type of hardwood that is more durable than others?

Do you have to install your Hardwood Flooring under existing cabinets?

I see several crack lines on my deck. Is this normal, or is the wood of poor quality?

Wood Floor Installation

How should I handle and store my wood floor prior to installation?

UNLOAD IN DRY WEATHER - If possible, unload flooring in good weather, never unload in the rain. Leave the flooring wrapped in the room you are installing it for 2 to 3 days to acclimatize.

Can I install a hardwood floor in any room?

Yes. With the variety of products available and a choice of installation options, hardwood flooring can now be installed in any room of the home. The only consideration is whether the floor will be installed on/above or below-grade. For example, because of potential moisture problems, solid hardwood is not recommended for installations below grade, such as in a basement. Engineered products, which are inherently dimensionally stable, are better choices for this area. All types of hardwood can be installed on/above-grade.

Can Solid wood be installed over linoleum?

Yes - providing the linoleum remains tightly glued to the original sub floor.

Can Solid wood be installed on stairs?

Yes, although it can be slippery, so think about your own environment before deciding (ie. Young children, pets)

Which installation method is best?

The method used for your hardwood installation will depend upon the type of product you have chosen, where the flooring will be installed and the type of subfloor. Nail down, glue down & floating are the three type of installation. For instance, if you are remodelling your kitchen, some products can be "floated" over most sub-floors, including vinyl or ceramic tile, eliminating the mess and cost of tearing up the existing floor and installing a sub-floor.

What is Floating Flooring?

Floating flooring is where the flooring is laid down over a layer of underlay. The individual planks are glued together, and they are not glued or nailed in to the permanent floor. By doing this the floor is "floating" above the underlay - this is the standard installation method for laminate flooring and is not recommended as the best method for solid wood floors.

What is the required distance between the walls and the flooring boards?

When gluing a Real Wood to the subfloor an expansion gap of 15mm towards the walls is sufficient. With floating-floor installations for every metre of installation width the flooring requires a distance to the wall of at least 5mm, lengthwise an expansion gap of 15mm is sufficient.

How much wastage should I allow for?

Despite our strict sorting criteria and thorough quality control there may be certain material-specific peculiarities that customers come across during the on-site selection and installation process which may need to be cut out. Generally, we recommend adding 7-10% to the room's sq.m. in total for cutting scrap.

Does sunlight have any effects on the flooring?

Yes, any kind of wood will change its colour over time. During this process light-coloured wood types are not necessarily going to get lighter, dark wood types however will get darker. Every wood type has a characteristic aging process of its own and will react in its individual way.

Wood Floor Sanding and Finishing

Lacquer (Varnish) and Oil (Hard Wax Oil), what is the difference?

A lacquered flooring will give a shiny reflective effect leaving the room feeling fresh and clean. Being lacquered makes it a harder wearing floor and a great way to make a room feel larger. An oiled flooring has an aged feel to it giving a room an authentic warm atmosphere. Great for areas that have high traffic volumes such as receptions. An oiled floor will require a maintenance coat to be applied every 16 - 24 months for residential or 4 - 6 month for floors with commercial use.

Can I change the colour of my floor?

Yes. Staining a floor a different colour is possible. After the floor has been sanded the floor can be stained in to a different colour. We use a number of water based stains and have a wide variety of shades to choose from.

How long will my room be out of action, when it’s being sanded?

A room that measures 20 sq. meters will take a day for sanding and finishing. Drying time of the finish itself depends of two things:environment of the room – humidity, temperature etc. (in warm and ventilated room, the floor finish will dry faster)and the type of the finish – Lacquer base finishes can get dry for 2-6 hours; Oil based finishes can take 24 hours to get dry. Try not to move furniture back in the room for 48 hours allowing the floor to cure properly.

My Floor has gaps between the boards!

Gaps can be filled using clean fine sawdust from your floor, which is mix with a wood filler. If gaps are wider than 7mm it may need the use of reclaimed splinters of wood to wedge into the gaps, then sand down to level.

Should I decorate my room first, or have the floors sanded first?

Decorate first and carry out any plumbing or electrical work prior to having your floor sanded is the optimal solution.

Is it sanding noisy?

Yes, it is quite noisy, particularly on the first day. When all machines are working you may want to go out for the day, or arrange for someone to look after young children.

Wood flooring Maintenance

Maintaining Your Wood Floor.

To keep your floors as beautiful as the day they were installed or refinished, simply follow these easy steps and always use the manufacturers' recommended cleaning product: Never use vinyl or tile floor care products on wood floors, they can cause the floor to become slippery and appear dull. Place mats and throw rugs at doorway exteriors and interiors to help prevent the tracking of grit and dirt on your wood flooring. Never wet-mop a wood floor. Standing water can stain or damage the wood. Wipe up food and other spills immediately with a slightly dampened towel. Place soft plastic or fabric faced glides under the legs of furniture to prevent scratching of your wood floor. When moving heavy furniture, completely pick it up rather than sliding it across the floor to best protect your wood flooring. Try not to let people walk on the wood floor with stiletto-healed shoes as these can cause damage. In the kitchen place a rug in front of the sink area. Use a humidifier in the winter months to keep the movement of wood to a minimum. Dust mop, sweep or vacuum your wood floor regularly. Clean with manufacturers recommended cleaner. Recoat the wood floor when cleaning no longer restores shine. The frequency of this will depend on the amount of traffic. Never place potted plants directly in contact with your flooring, even if they are placed in waterproof saucers. Condensation can develop under these saucers and damage your flooring. To avoid this, place your plants on trivets or stands, so that air can circulate underneath. Dog and cat nails can scratch and dent your floor's surface. Keep nails trimmed regularly. Immediately clean up pet urine, as it will damage the floor's finish if allowed to dry. No maintenance or cleaning products should be applied until 2 weeks after the wood floor has been lacquered or oiled. Do not use water to clean wood floors, always use a recommended cleaner.

Are Solid wood floors difficult to maintain and clean?

No - the floor is tough, durable and smooth or rustic finishes which are very easy to maintain. You must never damp mop a solid wood floor - water and wood do not mix. There are a number of products now available which are specifically for wood floors.

How do I care for my oil-impregnated Hardwood Floors?

Use Wood-Floor Soap for regular maintenance cleaning. Use a vacuum cleaner for lacquer-finished floors and damp-wipe only if needed.

Solid Wood Flooring

What is solid wood Flooring?

Solid wood flooring as expected really, regardless of width or length, if it’s one piece of wood from top to bottom, it’s considered solid wood flooring. Solid wood flooring gives you a great opportunity for customisation. Your choice of specie, stain and finishes all contribute to the personalisation of a solid floor. This is an excellent choice in most areas of a home on the ground level or above. Solid wooden flooring is a flooring material that will last for generations - all supported by very long warranties and guarantees that reflect this fact. Installation is slightly more involved than engineered flooring, however there are various way to fit them and lots of accessories to assist the installer in making a great job of laying your new floor.

Do Solid wood floors increase the value of your home?

Solid wood floors, just like ceramics are recognised as a high quality building material. They are long lasting and completely renewable with very little effort. Aside from these benefits solid wood floors are fashionable, minimalist and above all, desirable which means that they increase the value of your home.

Are solid wood floors expensive?

An increase in demand for hard wood floors has seen prices slowly fall as more and more companies are realising their benefits. When looking at the lifespan of solid wood floors they are excellent value for money as they never have to be replaced and are easily re-finished to suit décor changes. Solid wood floors truly are "beauty that lasts a lifetime". You can always find cheaper, but at what cost? Kaltimber offers the best quality ironwood at every single level here in Bali.

Parquet Flooring

Why Parquet?

There are many reasons to choose parquet. Some of the most important are: Parquet is a natural product, made from wood, man's only naturally; renewable resource, derived from sustainably managed forests or disused structures; Parquet is durable and economic. In case of occasional damage, it can be cleaned and renovated without any problem; Parquet is attractive, appealing, and full of character; Parquet is hygienic and anti-allergic; Parquet is versatile and available in a sheer endless number of designs and wood species; Parquet is the right choice for all living styles; Parquet is also an ideal choice for shops, schools, offices and sporting arenas; Parquet brings nature straight into your home.

General Questions

What is the difference between laminate flooring and wood flooring?

Laminate flooring consists of synthetic backing with a high-pressure laminate surface with a photograph of wood. Laminate is not renewable and therefore has a short usable life span. Wood flooring consists of wood backing with wood wear surface or solid wood. Wood flooring with proper care will last generations. Wood floors can be refinished, re-sanded, and re-coated to look like new again.

What are the benefits of wooden flooring?

Wooden floors are both renewable and recyclable. Bacteria, dust and dirt do not embed themselves in wooden flooring, unlike other flooring options. Millions of people suffer from sensitivity to dust and toxins. Tests have proven that wooden flooring provides a healthier environment for these allergy sufferers.

Is there a type of hardwood that is more durable than others?

Most temperate hardwood fall within a category, the choice really comes down to aesthetics and you own personal choice. However, some tropical hardwoods are considerably denser and more durable. Ulin grades as an A1 which is amongst the strongest hardwood in the world.

Do you have to install your Hardwood Flooring under existing cabinets?

Ideally, the hardwood flooring would go under the cabinets. You can, however, cut around the cabinets if removing the cabinets would cause undue complications. Keep in mind, though, that if you were ever to change the cabinets, you could have a problem if the new cabinets weren't the same size as the old cabinets.

I see several crack lines on my deck. Is this normal, or is the wood of poor quality?

These crack lines are actually termed as "hairline cracks", which are very common occurrences in natural wood. When the moisture content of the environment is drier/lower than the moisture content of the timber, moisture starts to escape from the ends and surface of the timber by creating splits.